The Newfoundland Herald's recent publication of a two-page anti-gay letter to the editor by hate leader Matt Barber has prompted some readers to file a human rights complaint against the Canadian entertainment magazine.

The column, "The Coming Christian Revolt," railed against LGBT rights, compared progressives to murderers, and warned of a Christian revolution against the increasingly "unconstitutional, immoral and unjust government" rule.

Western Pride NL member Kyle Curlew, who initiated filing the complaint, said his "jaw dropped" when he first saw the two-page letter.​

"I couldn't even believe that it was published in the Herald. It was a rallying call for people to stand against LGBT rights. Essentially, hate propaganda," Curlew told CBC.

Curlew said after reading the letter, he decided to take the matter to police.

"We filed a human rights complaint under C-46, Section 19, which is 'propaganda and the incitement of hate towards an identifiable group.' So we are hoping to press charges."

The Newfoundland Herlad's managing editor Pam Pardy-Ghent told the CBC that the magazine has received more feedback on Barber's letter than with any other previous matter or topic and plans to further address the matter soon.

We will be responding to this issue – and running many of the responses we have received – in the next, and in future editions of The Newfoundland Herald. While free speech is very important to us, being responsive and responsible to the people of this province is as well."

Comments

So, then. Let the "christian revolt" begin. I've been itching to mess it up with those reprehensible, reprobate evangelicals and have several in my sights.

Posted by: jamal49 | Aug 10, 2014 2:55:51 PM

I can see why the complaint was filed, but the problem is you're giving this drama queen and clown exactly the "christian martyr" status he's seeking.

Posted by: EchtKultig | Aug 10, 2014 3:32:25 PM

It's good to know that somewhere this hate speech can be challenged. He can go on Fox News and say whatever he wants and no one says a word.
A major difference between Americans and Canadians: Americans are much more likely to let these haters get away with their crap.

Posted by: David | Aug 10, 2014 3:38:04 PM

@ECHTKULTIG Could you please elaborate and explain this please? - "...you're giving this drama queen and clown exactly the "christian martyr" status he's seeking." How's that? Could you articulate your entire thought process for the reader? Show all mental work please.

@DAVID How did Canada NOT let this hater get away with it? They published his 2 page call-to-arms, not considering "C-46, Section 19". Then the editor PAM PARDY-GHENT said that they will publish "many of the responses... received" and that "free speech is very important". I think we know what that's code for. That means the Herald not only published the 2 page propaganda letter, they're going to publish all the bigots that agree with it too in the future.

As far as I'm concerned this is a clinching moment for Newfoundland, and they lost.

Posted by: Aiden | Aug 10, 2014 3:52:04 PM

this paper knew exactly what they were doing. publishing the hateful letter without a response was done on purpose, to sell papers. should the paper be found guilty and fined, all procedes and profits should go to promote positive glbt efforts in the area.

Posted by: northalabama | Aug 10, 2014 3:54:19 PM

and on Barber's own website he is flagrantly breaking the Ninth Commandment by outright LYING about the entire situation. YAY!

it had no place being printed in a Newfoundland TELEVISION GUIDE. it's beyond inane.

Aiden, you really shouldn't need help to understand my "entire thought process". But I'm willing to help you out just this once. Do you know how to google? I just googled "Matt Barber Canada" and this link from worldnutdaily showed up: www.wnd.com/2014/08/im-wanted-for-hate-crimes-in-canada/
It's taken him less than a day to complain to america's right wing bozos that he's now a criminal in canada just for being a good christian boy who hates teh gays.

That may be true, but it shouldn't be a consideration when deciding how to respond. You're allowing him to advance his agenda if you allow his agenda to control your response. The response should be some combination of reversing some of the damage he's caused and reducing his ability to cause more damage, regardless of what he wants.

Posted by: JJ | Aug 10, 2014 5:42:05 PM

@critifur: I honk maybe Kyler is confusing Mat Staver with Matt Barber. They're both with the vile Libery Counsel, so it's easy to understand. This was Barber.

Yo-ho, mo-fos. The battle's over here in Canada. You lost. Go chew on your mother's toenails or something.

Posted by: Jeff | Aug 10, 2014 6:21:44 PM

Bam Bam is not wanted, Canada definitely doesn't want you. Posted on Barbwire, but now I'm banned, how surprising, not.

Posted by: Bollox | Aug 10, 2014 7:22:48 PM

Barber may be scum but the state should not be infringing on free speech. Canada has a long, anti-gay history of censoring queer media. Gay books and films, for instance, have been stopped by Canadian customs from entering the country. This has even happened in recent years.

People should think a lot about celebrating the government censoring magazines and other media like this.

Posted by: Marvin | Aug 10, 2014 7:27:48 PM

Gluttony...not pretty...and not gawd's plan!

Posted by: Paul B. | Aug 10, 2014 7:56:54 PM

The coming Christing revolt? As far as I can tell, they're already revolting.

Posted by: Martin | Aug 10, 2014 9:09:27 PM

@marvin: of COURSE Canada SHOULD be censoring this type of speech. It isn't "free" speech, it's HATE speech, which is illegal in Canada.

That newspaper broke Canadian law by printing that "article". They should, and will, be held accountable for that action.

As for those of you talking about "Canada" as some monumental entity... guys! ONE newspaper printed this bullcrap article. A newspaper in Newfoundland, of all places.

That would be like complaining about "Americans" when an article gets posted in the "Oswego County Today" paper in Oswego NY.

Posted by: Mikey | Aug 10, 2014 10:20:53 PM

We have a real constitution and free speech in America and I prefer it that way. If Canada criminalizes speech then they reduce the liberty of the Canadian people. That's a shame.

Posted by: Enchantra | Aug 10, 2014 11:06:45 PM

Canadians are freer than Americans.
In general, we're much freer from the sort of hateful rhetoric that the likes of these christian-taliban are promoting.

Speech that contributes nothing to society and encourages hatred doesn't deserve to be free.

You can keep your "free speech" for all we care. LGBT rights have been enshrined in our constitution and our bill of rights for ages. Only one country has had marriage equality longer than us, and that by only a few months.

It's really funny because I don't ever remember ANYONE in Canada being prosecuted for their speech without it having been universally condemned. The American free speech protection was meant to protect the ability to voice different political opinions. Not to protect bigots, racists and homophobes. Your problem is that you've stretched the meaning of freedom of speech to include anything and everything EXCEPT "shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded theatre".

So go ahead, revel in your "freedom". Enjoy the way every bigot in your sad country can spew hatred and invective without fear of consequence.

I'll stick to Canada, where we have universal healthcare, LGBT equality in all things, and where citizens are responsible for their speech and held accountable when they promote hatred toward fellow citizens.

Stay out of our business when we take steps to stop you guys from exporting your brand of hatred and bigotry into our country, and we'll leave you to your "freedom of speech" and cries of "U.S.A., U.S.A." and your flag waving and gun-toting.